A big old thank you to everyone who came out last night to celebrate with us! 

If you didn't manage to make it to the new shop, don't you worry- there is still a lot of great stuff for you to give to those special people on that long holiday list. Come by today between 12:00 pm and 7:00 pm and we can work through it together- I am full of great ideas and have a store full of great stuff! Necklaces, capes, zippies, t shirts, holiday sweaters...


!!!


1244 Bloor Street West 

Open today from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm


You will love this!

I am ready for you! Come by the shiny new spot at 1244 Bloor Street West for all of your Christmas/holiday needs- be it your own, for the fancy parties you will be attending or a little something for someone on your list (the necklace pictured above, for example- brass hardware on buckskin lacing, $48). 

The Factory Store will be open from noon/seven both Friday/Saturday for your shopping convenience. 

See you there!

... at 1244 Bloor Street West, Toronto.

It has been a good week- the new shop is fully functioning with a point of sale machine and all kinds great clothing that I know you will love. If you have a girl on your holiday shopping list or a boy who needs a t shirt/ zippy, you should stop by Thursday/Friday/Saturday between 12 pm and 7 pm to take a look at what is on offer. Prices range from $38 to $108- check out the Sara Duke Factory Store before fighting your way through the malls.

And my I also suggest a all wool felt cape, $108, pictured below; perfect for cool nights in the spring, summer and fall and very perfect if you are going to a holiday party in a strapless dress and only have a parka to cover your shoulders.

 

If Thursday/Friday/Saturday 12 pm to 7 pm don't work for you- just let me know, sara@imadethisforyou.ca, and we can make a plan to get you in there at some other time.

 

Alright Public,

The new place is up and running- I will be opening up shop Thursday/Friday/Saturday noon to seven, I'd love for you to stop by:

1244 Bloor Street West

Between Dufferin and Lansdowne

North side of Bloor

For anyone familiar with the former location, this new place is a real step up- not only because it is right at street level, but it's huge. My factory is in the basement and the shop is it's own thing right in your face. You are going to love it! 

 Love,

Sara Duke

The new shop at 1244 Bloor Street W is just days away from being open. For added hype, my capes have been blogged about! 

http://www.29secrets.com/sections/style/how-wear-cape-jacket

After French Connection and before Chanel is a great place to be!

Moving sale! 

Come on down to 589 Markham Street and help me make my move a little bit easier! I have put everything in the store on sale in an effort to pack up less stuff- come and visit between 10 am and 6 pm today!

I also have a pretty big pile of whatnot that is not coming with me to the new location- various fashion books and notions and such- that need a new home. 

See you soon! 

Promised pictures of the new work space 

...and a couple of things that I have been working on for the brand new awesome shop, 

opening soon right on Bloor Street! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

This is what you will see if you walk by and peek in the window of 1244 Bloor Street West- this is the Factory Store bit, a work in progress but opening very soon! 

imadethisforyou.ca for more info

But for tomorrow, you can find me at the regular Saturday place- 589 Markham Street- The Sara Duke Factory Store will be open from 10 am to 6 pm. See you then/there!

Hello Public,

I've missed you! Big things have been in the works... Capes, skirts, little zip- ups, all in great fabrics under the "I made this for you." Sara Duke label, even a brand new location! More information on that news (and pictures) coming this week.

But for today, you can find me at the usual Saturday place- 589 Markham Street- from 10 am to 6 pm at the Factory Store. 

See you there! 

Love,

Sara Duke

The weather has taken a snappy turn towards winter! That means sweater- may I suggest an if you see cake silk blend banger with a so so vintage patch lovingly sewn on by hand? Available now at the Sara Duke Factory Store, open today 10 am to 6 pm, 589 Markham Street.

Wonderful, things are wonderful- I have found a pair of boots that I can work with! 

I was in a Value Village (second hand store) and grabbed a perfectly lovely pair for just $7.99; I did a little test of the inner lining today but the cream wool felt that had set aside made me look like Santa Claws. More to come! Ya!

Please forgive the tardiness of this post- I have been out all day long looking for a rubber boot to convert into an awesome rubber boot.

It has been a tough go, let me tell you! The pony print bangers that I was swooning after don't seem to be available south of Bloor Street in my size and the stylish lower price point boots that are available at the mall do not accommodate the girth of my super running calves; said boots only passed a particular point, then puddled around my ankles (much too embarrassing to photograph, but feel free to picture it and snicker.)  

I did, however, come across an even more expensive rubber boot:

Behold! See by Chloe priced at $250.

(Barf!)

The shop is open today! And just for Halloween, I have put together a table full of headpieces that I made for a photo shoot last year, priced to sell- might be the perfect thing to complete your costume! Come by and take a look-see: 589 Markham Street, 10 am to 6 pm.

See what happens when you look? I am trying to track down this very attractive pair of rubber boots from Canadian Tire in a size 7- they are pretty cute at $29.99! http://www.canadiantire.ca/search/search_results.jsp for more information.

Hunter Boots: I really want these boots. About three winters ago I also really wanted these boots; I looked into getting a pair then and they were $150 and just couldn't bring myself to spend the money. Then, this past Sunday, I hyped myself up and was going to do it. But still couldn't. 

I had a very interesting conversation with my best friend yesterday- the plan was to buy the inset sock for the winter with the Hunter logo on it and wear them with a pair of rain boots from any place. 

I looked into that yesterday and decided that the polar fleece sock priced at $39 was also not worth it- I think that I can do better. I am going to work on that, I think that I can do better, make a nicer pair of socks out of wool felt and buy that any rain boot from any place. Now, this might be one of those times where I spend a lot of time and energy making something that is an epic fail, but I will keep you posted with pictures and such...

Although fragrance is a little bit outside the boundaries of clothing, I am coming up on two years of owning two bottles of Channel n 5- one is a spray of eau do toilet (a lower concentration of fragrant oil, thus less expensive); the other is pure perfume (expensive!). 

Perfume is to be kept out of direct sunlight in a dry environment, so not the bathroom or on top of your dresser- and even under the best of conditions, they only really last two years.

(I have been called an old lady because of my affection for Channel n 5, but I just can’t help the love! This is the fragrance that launched the modern perfume and to this day, the flowers are grown on one particular farm, harvested and refined all in small town France. Love.)

This Saturday I will be at a wedding and will not be there to open up the shop- but I will be there and open this afternoon to make it up to you, 589 Markham Street.

Pictured above is me at my wedding 3 years ago this week- I made my own dress. I can make yours too. Please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca for more information.

The amount of fabric that is turned under on a hem depends on the fullness of the garment.

A very straight hem, like that on the black cotton if you see cake skirt pictured above, can be turned up an endless amount- or 2” then another 2” which nicely weights the garment.

If the hem is straight, you can turn it up as little or as much as you like.

A full hem, like that on the gray tonal rose print velvet if you see cake dress pictured above, can only be turned up a little bit- for this particular styling ¼” then another ¼” worked best. 

Assess the fullness of the garment you are working with before you attempt an alteration- a very full hem that is turned under too much will buckle and look like a whole lot of terrible!

Both garments are available at the Sara Duke Factory Store Saturdays 10 am to 6 pm, by chance or by appointment anytime- please contact sara@imadethisforyou.ca for more information.

Earlier this fall, I posted about cutting the stay stitching on the vent of your new winter coat- please note this is one of my number one top super pet vexations about fashion! And, sadly, as the weather gets cooler, I see more and more stay stitches that are uncut walking around the city.

Let me take this space and time to remind you to cut that stay stitch out.

On a similar topic, and I should have mentioned this before, winter coats often come with a label that is sewn on to the outside of the sleeve. This tag MUST be removed before wear! Pictured above is an if you see cake label hand tacked onto a sleeve, just a visual, this is the kind of thing that has to be taken off.

This one is a little bit advanced but:

Vogue puts out these really great fitting patterns- basic shapes from which you can develop a very accurate block for yourself or for someone who might want you to make them a little something. Along with the paper pattern, detailed instructions are included addressing measurements, general pattern drafting and sewing techniques.

Grab the size that more or less fits your particular measurements, read through and follow all of the steps then make a quick mock up before getting down and designing- using an inexpensive medium weight woven, non stretch, stripe or plaid/check will show any fitting flaws.

A little bit pricy at $27.50 per envelope, however, Fabricland (www.fabricland.com) sells Vogue patterns at 50% off as far back as I can remember; pattern #1003 for pants and #1004 for a bodice and skirt.